Getting on with graphs

New functionality in the latest release of Javelin (2019 R1) software covers a wide variety of business areas, including sales, purchasing, work in progress, scrap and reject, and scheduling. The graphs can be customised to show different time intervals, horizons, specific field values and groups.

Javelin consultant Jo Bradley says there are options on the type of graph, such as pie, bar and column charts, gauges and text outputs: “Graphs give a full visual overview of how the business is running, on one screen. Dashboards can be set to automatically refresh with the latest data, reducing the need to go into the system and run reports. It’s all there as soon as Javelin’s launched.”

User upgrades

API (Application Programming Interface): The new release features a chargeable bolt-on enabling data to be imported from third-party software. Information such as WIP, clock in-out, and stock transactions can all be accepted by Javelin, populating SQL tables.

Consultant Chris O’Mara explains: “One of the key areas we are anticipating is linking to software controlling hand scanners and key fobs for clocking in and out of buildings. The workforce can then simply log on to specific jobs and operations with Javelin’s Shop Floor Data Capture, and management use the employee utilisation analysis reports for an update.”

The Cloud: In response to a number of users’ enquiries about storing data on cloud-based applications, Javelin 2019 R1 has been successfully tested with Microsoft Azure Cloud Services. The Javelin team is looking to work in partnership with individual customers to develop it further.

WIP: Within Work In Progress, Mr O’Mara says the ability to create new works orders from existing ones will be particularly valuable to companies manufacturing tailored products which later need to be replicated: “It saves time, because you don’t need to manually retype specific works order details,” he says. In addition, a new screen allows users to open or close existing operations easily without having to ‘Record’ or ‘Cancel’ WIP.

Obsolescence: The amount of data held in Javelin is constantly growing, so the Obsolete function has now been extended to cover a number of additional codes, such as op narratives, non-productive codes, product groups, responsibility code, salesperson, buyers, and WIP booking codes.

Mr O’Mara explains: “Many manufacturers need to retain data for traceability and obsolescence functions allow users to keep screens tidy by hiding redundant information. Obsolete codes are not available for selection when creating new records.”

Costing: The Costing function in Javelin now has new SQL data views that store the latest cost records. This improves external reporting as historic costs do not need to filtered out. Additional filters have been added to the delivery note and cost of sales reports, to ensure users only print the records they need.

MRP: A new default method of handling reorder level supply has been introduced. Any supply that fulfils the reorder level demand will now be considered as ‘Advances Only’. This improves situations where demand is dynamic by allowing multiple reorder supply dates for each part.

Easy redesigns

Menu Maintenance: Menu maintenance has been redesigned, providing new grouping functionality and improved screen design, making it is easier to see which menu permissions have been assigned to each user. Jo Bradley notes: “Groups such as purchasing, sales, and finance can be created, each with their own menu rights, so it’s quicker to maintain permissions across the user base. New recruits to the company can simply be added to the relevant group.”

Purchasing: Chris O’Mara says companies are increasingly wanting to put labels on goods, so a new function in Javelin 2019 R1 allows definable pack sizes on the part supplier screen: “Users can now enter pack sizes so when items are received Javelin produces the correct number of labels for that suppliers’ part. We’ve also added the ability to select a number of pre-defined supplier terms rather than just having a free text field,” he advises.

A new search command within miscellaneous purchase order items makes it easier to find the required part, and the screen now includes extended description and nominal codes.

Emails: Documents linked to parts can be set to automatically attach when emailing quotes, sales orders, and purchase orders – and documents can also be attached by supplier. Mr O’Mara says: “As terms and conditions can be specific to each supplier, this new functionality means individual supplier documents can be automatically attached to emails.”

Company branding: The latest release now supports company logo or image on the Javelin desktop. In addition, Icons can be assigned to work centres as well as store location for quicker identification.

Advancing orders

Sales: New functionality allows the mass update of due and promise dates on sales orders. Where users have multiple items all with the same date on a single sales order, it can now be changed with one click instead of having process line by line.

“As scheduling is becoming increasingly more important, users need to know when a works order (WO) is due to finish, so a new screen, Scheduled Date Feedback, shows the WO end date and sales order date,” Mr O’Mara comments. “The sales due date and promise date can be updated to tie in with the scheduled WO end date.”

Sub-Contractors: Supplier approval now applies to subcontractor purchase orders. Mr O’Mara says this gives control over subcontractors’ adherence to quality standards. Price book changes can now be rapidly applied to update existing routing costs.

Quality: Inspection results that fail specified criteria can now be recorded, so additional samples will be required to pass.

Accounts: Invoice maintenance screen now includes a tool tip to show multiple sales orders associated with each delivery note.

Miscellaneous: An increased number of screens now have access to documents, improving accessibility to information such as supplier certification, customer drawings and requirements, spreadsheets, Word, and PDFs. If a user has the software to open a document, it can be linked in Javelin.

Finally, a new ‘Replace’ button allows tools to be exchanged on routings.

Mr O’Mara concludes: “Overall Javelin 2019 R1 is all about focusing on supplying key information faster, while taking steps to increase system integration and make growing databases easier to manage.”

Javelin www.javelin-mrp.com